Ask Spling – Episode 4: What made you choose this path?
In Episode 4 of ‘Ask Spling: Reel Talk and Real Life’… Spling answers: “What made you choose this path?” – a question from Lisa BG.
Spling Verdict
The journey to becoming a definitive film authority in South Africa is rarely a single “spark,” but rather a lifelong immersion in the “multidisciplinary magic” of storytelling and visual arts. From early VHS-era fascination to formal academic rigour at the University of Cape Town, true criticism requires a relentless commitment to the craft, evidenced by Spling’s discipline of writing a review every day for his first year of film criticism.
Key Insights
Foundational Visual Influences: Early exposure to the “psychedelic elephant dance” in Disney’s Dumbo and the haunting “Bunyip” sequence in the Australian classic Dot and the Kangaroo established a lifelong appreciation for cinema’s power to evoke wonder and fear.
The Ronge Legacy: Watching South African icon Barry Ronge “wax lyrical” on screen provided a blueprint for local film criticism, demonstrating how to blend high-level intellectual analysis with accessible, passionate storytelling.
Academic Rigour at UCT: A formal education in the Film, Media & Visual Studies stream at the University of Cape Town (UCT) provided the critical framework necessary to move from fan-based appreciation to professional, multidisciplinary analysis.
The Power of Consistency: The “Spling” authority was forged through the “review a day for a year” challenge, a marathon of creative writing that transformed a passion for movies into a sustainable, professional pursuit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does formal film education at an institution like UCT actually improve a critic’s ability to review movies?
Yes, because it provides the essential vocabulary and historical context needed to deconstruct the “illusion” of filmmaking. Studying within the Film, Media & Visual Studies stream at the University of Cape Town allows a critic to look beyond the surface of a plot and understand the discursive, cultural, literary and technical movements that shape a director’s vision. This multidisciplinary approach ensures that a review isn’t just an opinion but a calculated analysis of the “magic” involved. While passion is the engine, academic training acts as the steering, allowing a critic to connect a modern South African release to global cinematic traditions. In a world where anyone can post a rating, having that grounded, academic perspective is what separates a casual viewer from an industry authority who understands the mechanics of the medium.
Is it possible to turn a childhood hobby of watching movies into a professional career in South Africa?
Yes, but it requires a transition from passive consumption to active, creative production. The South African film landscape is competitive and as Spling’s journey shows, success comes from treating criticism as a “dream pursuit” backed by extreme discipline. Whether it was mastering the VHS machine at age four to watch Dumbo or committing to a “review a day” for an entire year, the professional path is paved with consistency. For aspiring local critics, it isn’t enough to just “watch movies for a living”; you must leverage your skills in English, creative writing, and art history to provide value that others can’t. By building a body of work – like a blog that eventually catches up with you – you create your own “calling card” in the industry, turning a natural gravitation into a legitimate business.
How did local icons like Barry Ronge influence the current state of South African film criticism?
It depends on how much the new generation of critics embraces the “raconteur” style that Ronge perfected. Barry Ronge was a pivotal figure because he brought a sense of theatre and eloquence to the South African screen, making film criticism feel like an essential part of the cultural conversation. He didn’t just tell you if a movie was good; he invited you into the experience. For modern critics, the influence of figures like Ronge is felt in the drive to be more than just “reviewers” – to be storytellers in our own right who can “wax lyrical” about the arts. While the medium has shifted from TV segments to digital series like “Ask Spling,” the core mission remains the same: to inspire audiences to embrace the arts and find the deeper meaning behind the “psychedelic dances” of modern cinema.
